Internal-combustion engine.



W. C. PALMER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION EILED Nov. 9. 1914.

Patent-ed May 23, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. C. PALMER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION man Nov. 9, 1914,

1,1 83,904. Patented May 23,1916

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

III/III W. C. PALMER. v INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILEDNov. 9, 19 132 1,183,904. Patented May 23,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- I III i"i|"-,,,,,,// |I I mli ""Q,,0,,,,,II,II IT 1IIV I IIIIIIIIIIIII IIII I I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII AI 66;

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U ITED STATES PATENT oFrroE.

WILLIAM C. PALMER, OF CHIGAGOQILLI NGIS.

mrnRNAL-comus'rIoN ENGINE.

To all whom it may concern l I Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. PALMER, acitizen of the United, States, residing at Chicago, in the county of.Cook and State of llinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is aspecification. V 7

One of the objectsof the present invention is the production of alight-weight, powerful motor or engine'of the internal-combustion orexplosiontype, preferably of, the style wherein an explosion occurs ineach cylinder for each revolution, whereby a small number ofcylindersonly arefequired 'to obtain the desired smooth running ofthedevice.

A further feature of the invention re- I sides in the production of aconstrl lctiori and other objects will be apparent.

wherein the charge or. -mixture of explosive gas is drawn into thecylinder under the action of spring-pressure, preferably, though notnecessarily, in connection orassociation with an auxiliary fresh air:through the crank casings whereby to secure anefiicient scavengering orcleaning of thecylindersand an efiective expulsion of'the explodedgases,

Another salient feature of the improved construction incorporating thepreferred embodiment of the invention is the employment of multiple ordouble springs one Within the other to secure an extensive eXpan: sion,but occupying, however,

have a full and complete understanding of" the invention, a preferredembodiment of the same has been illustrated in the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification, and to which reference-should behad in connectionwith the following detailed description of operation.In the various views, like characters refer to 'thesame jparts. From aconsideration of the illustration and description, the attainment oftheabove specified In these drawingszvFigure l'isa central, vertical,longitudinal section through a twocylinder engine Fig. 2 is a verticalcross:

the usual connecting-rod 21 and the supply taken, and pistons,--;

I apertured boss, 24; and provided with a port through the pistonand arelatively small space, thesesprings being employed the construction,and

open, and vice versa.

The ribs 28' on the upper portions of the cylinders are circular iniormwhile the ribs '37 on the lower portions of the Patented May 23,1916.

Application filed November 9, 1914. Serial No. 870,969.

section through one of the cylinders showing 4 the movable parts in adifferent position;

Fig. 3 is a central, vertical section between pendent crank-case, 18 and19 respectively,

the cylinders being in direct communication With their respectivecrank-casings, as is clearly illustrated.

In this two-cylinder engine, power-piston 20 of the cylinder eiated withits portion of the crank-shaft by I reciproeating piston 22 of thecylinder 17 is simi larly connected to the crank-shaft by aconnecting-rod 23. tons has an upstanding, centrally-disposed,respectively, each the sliding equipped with, downwardlylosing,springactuated valves 26 and 27 respectively.

As'is illustrated, the cylinders are supplied with the outstandingradiation ribs 28, 28, and between the lower portions of the cylindersthere is extended,,right-angle passage 29, (Figs. 3 and 4), opening atits upper end space between the cylinders. The closure 30 for theenlarged or lower end of the air passage 29 is held in place=againstthecasing by a wing-nut 31- on the threaded end of a 32, theinner end of which takes into the rod internal. boss 33. Fulcrumedonthis rod is 16 is asso- Each of these hollow pisprovided adownwardly-' into the a lever 34 carrying upwardly olosing valves v 35and 36, the former; establishing and breaking communication between thepassage 29 and the crank-casing 1 8, and. the latter controllingcommunication between the passage 29 and'the companion crankcasing '19,the valves being so arranged on thelever arm that when one is closed'the'other is the cylinder are continuous, extending around not onlyouter surfaces of the cylinders 18 and 17 but also aroundthe'wallsforming the central passage 29, all as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3and 4.

Fastened to opposite sides of the cylinders by screws 60 engaging bosses61 are a pair of sheet-metal lates 62 and 63, spaced away from the cyliners and having their forward portions 64 made divergent and the rearportions 65 convergent so as to receive tween them an adequate supply ofcoolmg air and direct it toward the rear side of the back cylinder tomore efficiently obtain its cooling action. These plates, as will beapparent,-form a sort of casing or open shell" around the cylinders.

Each cylinderhas an intake-port 38 controlled by a spring-pressed valve39, and is also supplied with a plurality of discharge I ating ports 45,45 and controlled wardly-closing spring-pressed valve 46.

ports 40, 40, associated with ribbed exhaust manifolds 41 and 42.

Each cylinder-in itsupper portion has reciprocable, therein a hollowplunger 43 provided through its top-wall with a port 414 communicatingwith a plurality of radiy an up- Each cylinder at its top has anupwardlyprojecting, externally ribbed, axial extension 47 providing aninternal cylindrical compartment or chamber 48 accommodating an outerexpansion spiral-spring 49 and an inner telescopingexpansion-spiral-spring 50 associated together so as to operate inseries or conjunction with one another by means of a thin, metal.interposed sleeve 51, the

lower end of which has a flange 52 underlying the lower end of the outerspring 49 and the inner or upper end of which has a shoulder 53overlying the corresponding end of the internal spring 50, the inner endof the sleeve having also a reduced extension 54; adapted to slide onand be guided by a central stud accommodated inside ofthe inner spring.As'is clearly shown, the lower end of the inner spring 50 bears againsta central boss on the, top wall of the. sliding plunger 43. 'In this waythe downward pressure of both springs isexertcd on' the plunger, tendingto depress the same. The parts are so constructed that when the plungetis at its uppermost position, as illustrated in the right-hand cylinderof Fig. 1, the compartn'ient or chamber 48 is substantially filled withthe telcscoped and interfitting springs, sleeve. stud, and valve-operating pal so that the compartment can contain or hold only aaseouscontent of small volume under these circumstances.

flach cylinder is, of course, equippcd with its own spark plug or otherignition device and 57 respectively. In order that the charge inside ofthe hollow plunger may be fired or exploded, the exterior surface ofeach plunger is equipped with an annular groove 58 which communicateswith one or more holes or apertures 59 extending pressure above the pisthe-k'ompresscd air below the piston and in through the cylindrical wallof the plunger, the groove 58, of course, beingin register with thespark plug of the cylinder when conditions are proper for the explosionof the mixture, as shown in the right-hand portion of Fig. 1..

Operation: The 0 eration' of this appliance takes place su stantially asfollows: Assuming -in any one cylinder that the plunger and the pistonwhich partially telescopes therewith are at the upper range of theirmovements with a compressedcharge or mixture between them ready forfiring the explosion, asillustrated in the right-hand cylinder of Fig.1, the igniting device is operated and ares the charge by means of thegroove 58 and the openings 59. This explosion pushes the pistondownwardly, exerting rotative effort on the cran '-shaft in the usualmanner. The plunger, however, remains in its uppermost position, becausethe pressure between it and the piston is greater than the downwardpressure of the coiiperziting springs 49 and 50. As soon, however, asthe pressure between the plunger and piston is reduced sufficiently sothat the pressure of the springs on the plunger overcomes it, which willordinarily occur as soon as the piston uncovers the exhaust ports 40,then the plunger. will be pressed down by its springs and will draw inthe fresh discharge above it through the intakeport 38, the valve 39opening for this purpose, as will be readily understood, and the valve46 of the plunger remaining closed. This downward movement of theplunger not only draws in a new charge above it, but it also assists inthe rapid expulsion of the exploded gases through the discharge portswhich are made of ample capacity.

During the downward stroke of the piston the corresponding crank-casevalve or 36, as the case may be. was held closed, owing to thecompression of the air in the crank-case due to such movement of thepiston. During the down stroke of the )iston, the valve '26 wasmaintained closed y reason of the gas pressure above it and its owncooperating spring. Assoon, however, as the piston uncovered the exhaustor 1 discharge ports and t'pereby reduced the on, the pressure ofthe'icrunlc-case was suflicicnt to open the piston van-012a and 27. asthe case may be, and centrally discharge the fresh air into the cylinderbetween the piston and the plunger-J This discharge will occur atapproximately the same time tlmt'thc plunger is descendingitoward thepistop under the influence of its springs, which results in ther'apiddischarge of the exploded g es, the air-assisting in expelling thegases and cleaning the cylinder. In this way a direct cooperationobtained between the action Ice I plunger, partly entering the same, andin so doing, will compress the intervening air which will act asacushion between the parts. Such upwardm'ovement of the piston and.plunger causes a closure of the valve- 39 and an opening of the valve46, so that the gas charge above theplunger 1s now transferred to withinthe plunger and when I the plunger and piston reach their uppermostposition the mixture will be then ready for firing or ignition, aspreviously explained. This upward travel of the piston.

will cause an opening of the crank-case valve and the drawing in tothecjrank-cuse of a supply of air'froin between the cylinders throughthe passage 29 ready for compression in the crankcaseduringthdsubsequent descent of the piston, as explained above. -Whcre, aplurality of cylinders are employed in close juxtaposition, as is usualin engines of this type, the hottest zone and that which requires themost cooling, is between the two cylinders, and by thus drawiug in theair this points positive/ and direct circulation of air is efiectedbetween the cylinders assist ng in ma ntain ng them cool.

I ders is alike, .40

Stated differently, the cooling air around the I J exterior of thecylinders is drawn in through Myths craulcoasings and used to assist inthe expulsiomof the. exploded gases in the cylinders and in theircleansing. 5

dlhe cycle of operation in the/two cylinbut it should benotcd that. nosprings are required for the crank-case valves and 36 mounted on thelever 34;

because one of these valyes will alwzfys be open while the ctheris iclosed' andz'vice versa.

That is, -vvhen'air is being drawn into one crankcase it is beingcompressed in the other so that there is no conflict, in the action ofthe Valvesl- It should be observedjfurther that an engine of this typeis somewhat self-regu- I 1 the plungers and,'conseq'uently,.

which they will suck in,

lating because theiextent of movement of the charge what upon the'speedat vvhichuthe engine is operating, .thehigheij the speed the less chargedrawn in and the lowerthe speed the greater the charge, whereby theengine will -have a tendency to maintain a 'uniform' speed.

,FIOIH a consideration of this preferred embodiment of the invention'andits functions it will be appreciated that the objects of the inventionare. accomplished therein.- Thatiis to say, the-engine may beconstructed so asto he. of light weight and still sntiooth-in operation,due to. a

will depend somethe fact that there is an explosion in each cylinderduring each revolution, the charge or mixture being drawn in underspring action, the cylinders eifective'ly cooled both interiorly andextcriorly and cleaned internally by the air admitted centrally throughthe piston, such central distribution being most efiicient for the rapidand complete expulsion of the useless gases.

Various minor mechanical changes may be incorporated in a structure, ofthis character' without departing from the essence of the inventionandwithout sacrificing any of its'substantial benefits and advantages, andit is, therefore, to be understood that theinvention is not limited andrestricted to the precise-41nd exact structural. features shown anddescribed.

I claim:

1. In an. internalcombustion engine, the combination of a cylinderprovided'with an intake-port, a power-piston slidable in said cylinder,a valved plunger slidable in said cylinder and located between thecylinder intake-port and said piston, and a plurality offtelescopingsprings arranged in series and adapted to operate said plunger,substantially' described;

2 In'an internal-combustionengine, the combination of a cylinderprovided with an intake-port, a power-piston sli'd able in said -3. Inaniinterual combustion-engine, the

combination of a plurality of cylinders, a

piston slidable in each, 'a closed crank-case for each. of saidcylinders, means to conduct valve for each of said pistons controllingthe passage of the crank-case alr through the piston into the cylinder,substantially as described I, V I

4, In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a cylinderprovided with intake and exhaustports,a valved power-piston slidable insaid cylinder, apowershait,

, a connection, between said piston and power shaft, meansito, causesaid valveto open to admit air'through the piston into the cyl inder toassist i'nthe expulsion of the explodedlgases, EVValVGd" plungerslidable in said cylinder and located between thegcylinderintakefportand said. piston, and means unconnected with said shaftadapted to operate said plunger, substantially as described;

5.111- 311 internal-combustion engine, the

a air frombetween said cylinders to-said crank cases, a valve for eachof said crank-cases, a crank-shaft, a conneotingrod between thecrank-shaft and each of said pistons, and a combination of acylinderprovided with intake andexhaust-ports, a valved Power-pis ton slidablein said cylinder, means to cause said valve to open to admit air throughthe 5 piston into the cylinder to assist in the expulsion of theexploded gases, a valved plunger slid-able in said cylinder and locatedbetween the intake-port and said power-piston, and sprin -means tooperate said plunger, substantia ly as described. v

6. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination ofa cylinderprovided with intake and exhaust-ports and a compartment forming anextension of the cylinder-cavity, a valved power-piston slidable in saidcylinder, means to cause -said valve to open to admit air through thepiston into the cylinder to assist in the expulsion of the explodedgases, :1 valved plunger slidable in said cylinder and located betweenthe intake-port and said power-piston, and spring-means housed in saidcompartment and adapted to operate said plunger, substantially asdescribed.

7. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a cylinderprovided with intake and exhaust-ports, a valved power-piston slidabletherein, a closed crank-case, a crank-shaft, a connecting-rod betweensaid crankshaft and piston, the valve of tie piston being adapted topermit the passage of air therethrough from the crank-case to assist inthe expulsion of the exploded gases and in the cleaning of the cylinder,a valved plunger slidable in said cylinder and located between thecylinder intake-port and said power-piston. and means unconnected withsaid crank-shaft adapted to operate said plunger, substantially asdescribed.

v8.In an internal-combustion engine. the combination of a cylinderprovided with intake and exhausbports and a compartment forming anextension of the cylinder cavity, a valued power-piston slidable in saidcylinder. a closed crank-case, a crank-shaft in said case, a rodconnecting said crank-shaft and piston, the alve of the piston beingadapted to permit the passage of air therethroughfrom' the crank-case toassist in the expulsion of the exploded gases and in the cleaning of thecylinder, a valved plunger slidablc in said cylinder and flocptbdbetween the cylinder intake-port and said power-piston. and spring-meanshoused in said compartment and adapted to operate said plunger,substantially as described.

9. In an internal-combustion engine. the combination of a cylinderprovided with intake and exhaushports, a power-piston Slide ncctionbetween said piston and shaft, a closed crank-case, a crankshaft in saidcase,

provided with intake and exhaust ports, a

able in said cylinder. a power-shaft, a con a rod connectingsaidcrank-shaft a'nd pisl tan, a valve controlling the admission of airto the crank-case, a valve controlling the passage of the crank-ease airthrou h the piston into the cylinder, 11 valved-p ungcr slidable in saidcylinder and located between the intake-port and said power-piston, andmeans unconnected with said power-shaft adaptedto operate said plunger,substan tially as described. I

10. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a cylinderprovided with intake and exhaust-ports, a power-piston slidable thereinand having a substantially central apertrfre therethrough, a closedcrankcase, a crank-shaft in said case, a connecting-rod between saidcrank-shaft and piston, a valve controlling the admission of air to thecrank-case, a valve controlling the passage of the crank-ease airthrough the aperture through said piston into the cylinder, a valvedplunger slidable in said cylinder and located between the intake-portand said po\ver-piston, and spring-means to opcrate said plunger,substantially as described.

11. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a plurality ofcylinders each owevpiston slidable in each of saidcylinders. a closedcrank-case for each of said cylinders, means to conduct air from between said cylinders to said crank cases, a valve for each of'saidcrank-cases, a crankshaft for each of said crank-cases, a connecting rodbetween each of said power-pistons and said crank-shafts. a valve ineach of said pistons controlling the passage of the crank-case airthrough the piston intothe cylinder, :1 valved plunger slidable in eachof said cylinders and located between the vlinder intake-port and thecorresponding power-piston, and means to operate said plungers,substantially as described.

12.. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination of a plurality ofcylinders each having admission and exhaust-ports, a casing inclosingsaid cylinders and open at the front and rear topermitthe passage ofairpast the cylinders, 11 power-piston slidablc in each of said cylinders,a closed crankcase for each ofsaid cylinders, means to conduct air frombetween said cylinders to said crank cases, a valve, for each of saidcrank-cases, a cranlr shaftin said crank-cases,'a connecting rod betweenthe 'crank'slmft and each of said power-pistons; and a valve for each of.said pistons controlling the passage of the crank-case'air through thepiston into the c \"linder, substantially as described.

WILLIAM C. PALMER. \Vitncssest Y t H. E. (lust, I 4 R. L, Hummers,

